A tearful Joanette Alvarado appeared before Judge Michael Koury, saying she never intended to harm her baby May 20, 2013. She was feeding the infant on her couch when she turned to grab a blanket, she said. Her then-1-year-old daughter pulled the infant while she was looking away, and the two fell off the sofa, she said.

"I took my responsibility because of that, your honor, and I'm really, really sorry," said the 31-year-old, wearing a rosary around her neck.

But police said the extent of the child's injuries don't match her story. The baby suffered a broken femur and broken collarbone, and the force required to break the baby's leg could not have happened through a fall alone, according to Dr. John Van Brackle, of St. Luke's University Hospital.

Alvarado pleaded no contest to charges of endangering the welfare of children, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. No contest pleas are treated the same as guilty pleas for sentencing, but the defendant does not have to admit guilt.

During the sentence, Alvarado read aloud a letter she wrote her 6-year-old daughter, telling her how much she missed her and apologizing for the pain she has put her through. She told the girl how proud she was to hear she was excelling at school and asked her to watch over one of her sisters.

"Remember, you are Mommy's star," Alvarado said through sobs.

Koury noted that Alvarado was abusing heroin at the time of the incident and was taking four bags of the drug a day at the time of her arrest in September. Defense attorney Vivian Zumas said Alvarado's husband, Juan Fernandez, who is currently in Lehigh County Prison awaiting charges of retail theft and drug possession, got her hooked on the drug and has been a negative influence on her life.

"This person absolutely loves her children," Zumas said. "Something like this would never happen again."

Assistant District Attorney Patricia Broscius made no requests for sentencing but said Alvarado must come into compliance with the Division of Children, Youth and Families if she is ever going to be allowed to see her children again. Alvarado has so far failed to meet standards for drug and alcohol and mental health treatments, she said.

"I don't doubt her sincerity for a minute," Broscius said.

Koury sentenced Alvarado to one to two years in Northampton County Prison followed by five years of probation. He granted her credit for the seven months she's already served. In passing his sentence, he fell back on a recurring comment he's used in child abuse cases.

"Having a child makes you no more a parent than having a piano makes you a pianist. Ms. Alvarado, you have failed this child," he said.

After the hearing, Broscius said family members are caring for the children, though the three girls are not in the same household, she said.